Plaque unveiling celebrates town's snowdrop links

12 June 2017

Mendip District Council's former Chair, Cllr Jeannette Marsh, joined members of Shepton Mallet Horticultural Society to unveil a plaque celebrating the town's close connections with the popular snowdrop flower.

The plaque is situated in the flower bed outside Highfield House, at the Shape Mendip Hub in Shepton Mallet, and is surrounded by snowdrops, planted by Cllr Marsh.

Highfield House is the former home of the 'Snowdrop King' James Allen, the first person ever to breed new varieties of wild snowdrops. In the late 19th Century breeding snowdrops became highly fashionable and James Allen grew all the species and varieties then known and was one of the first people to deliberately cross them and raise hybrids from seed.

Cllr Marsh said: "Shepton Mallet has such close links with these wonderful, pretty flowers that it seemed only right we celebrated the work of the 'Snowdrop King' James Allen, while recognising the fantastic success of this year's Snowdrop Festival.

"I would like to thank the horticultural society for their support and hard work in making the snowdrop festival such a success. The festival was a great advert for Shepton Mallet and proved popular with both local people and visitors to the town."